Miguel Migs

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Mention the name Miguel Migs to anyone who listens to electronic dance music - whichever style they are specifically into - and you will get a reply somewhat like this: “Miguel Migs? Yeah, he makes that deep, sexy house music”. It is due to his superb song-writing ability and benchmark-setting production techniques that his name has become synonymous with that sound. Migs has just released his sophomore artist album, titled ‘Those Things’, on his own label ‘Salted Music’. Not only is it an album that further cements his position in the aforementioned genre, it is an outlet for him to expose some of his other musical influences. Miguel kindly took some time to answer a few of my questions, and allow you readers to get a brief insight into his world.

I’ll start by stating that you, along with Jay-J, are responsible for my on-going love of deep, soulful house grooves. I would not be interviewing you if it weren’t for the influence your musical output has had on my taste in music. To keep this praise relevant to the interview, is appreciation such as I have just given what drives you to continue producing music, some 8 years after the release of your first record. What keeps you motivated?

Well, first off thanks a lot, very much appreciated! I find inspiration in everything around me. From people to places and of course ALL different kinds of music! I listen to mostly everything and get ideas from many different styles. Also music just runs through my veins and thoughts everyday and at this point it’s not even really a choice in a way, it’s just my nature and its what I love and do... I also get inspired when people tell me how much the music touches them and has helped them through hard times in life. That right there is meaning enough to continue to write, create and release music...

Remarkably, you have stayed true to your signature sound (deep, soulful house) over the span of your DJ/Producer career. Is this a case of you not being influenced by the diversification, or ‘genre-fication’, of house music in today’s electronic dance scene, or simply that you’d feel quite hypocritical if you turned your back on the phrase ‘keep it deep’ (imprinted on all your vinyl releases)? In other words, do any contemporary house sounds (e.g. electro-house, or minimal/tech-house) prick your ear and tempt you to approach production/DJ’ing from a different angle? If not, what makes you believe the music you are producing remains not only fresh, but also relevant?

I stay true to what I believe in and I write and play music that I feel. I like a lot of minimal tech stuff and some electro stuff as well... If you really know my discography you will see how diverse it has always been. It covers everything from vocals, to dubby tracks, to soulful grooves and downtempo, to more electronic or percussive productions. What ever it is though, it always comes from inside with soul. It just comes out that way. But no matter if it’s rock, house, hip-hop, reggae or whatever, I am always attracted to the soulful side of music in general. Music with melody and emotion. I think its important to push yourself no matter who you are to grow and diversify, but not if you’re just following the trends like its fashion! If you’re into it and you believe in it then do it because of the passion not just cause it will make you a quick dollar or because its what’s 'hot at the moment'... Good melodies and great song writing is timeless no matter what type of music it is and that’s what’s real to me...

While we are on the topic of musical influences, as clichéd as this question has become – what early artists do you consider had an impact on your development as a producer of deep house? The fact that you often include multiple remixes of your own 12” releases (e.g. dub, tech, vocal, etc.) suggests a need to satisfy some of the various influences you harbour.


Like I mentioned before I love all different styles so doing multiple remixes of tracks is a creative outlet for me... To answer your question about influences, well, I was really into the stuff guys like Wayne Gardener, Kerri chandler and Frankie Feliciano were producing in the early 90's... My Dub influence though comes from my history and passion of reggae music.

All this talk of your musical influences segues fittingly into the topic of your new artist album, titled ‘Those things’, which has just been released. I have read various comments from your peers that, with this album, you have matured considerably as a producer. Looking at the artists you have collaborated with (Junior Reid, Sadat X (from Brand Nubian), L.T., Lisa Shaw, Tim Fuller and Fred Ross – all credible artists in their own unique style), it certainly seems that this observation is apt. 5 years after the release of your debut, and sole, artist album ‘Colorful you’, how are you feeling about your evolution as a producer? Are you excited about sharing this new body of work with the world?

When I wrote 'Colorful you' I did not have my own studio and I was renting and booking time in Moulton Studios (Jay-J’s infamous recording studio in San Francisco) to record... I had no money in those days so the material was extremely rushed and I was writing and recording some of those songs in the matter of a day! Now I have my own studio so I was able to sit on ideas and take my time with recording and writing in between touring and travelling. So I feel this new album is a much better representation of what I’m into... There is some hip-hop, old school funk/soul and reggae influences on there with a lot of live instrumentation. Plus I wrote, mixed and engineered most everything myself so I’m very proud of the album and feel its a very diverse spectrum of my influences although this album is relatively uptempo. But there is only so much you can fit on one album and there is loads of material in my brain of all different tempo's and styles right now and I’m ready for the next one! There is never a shortage of new ideas running through me....

How are things going with your record label, Salted Music? I have heard that you may be working with Sydney DJ/Production duo ‘Random Soul’. This is very exciting for me as Yogi (one half of Random Soul, alongside Husky) has been a long-time favourite DJ of mine – I refer to him as ‘Sydney’s answer to Jay-J/Miguel Migs’. You must receive thousands of cd-r’s from various would-be producers. What criteria do you have when ploughing through them all – do you listen for specific ideas/sounds, or just whatever catches your ear?


Whatever catches my ear really, I’m just looking for interesting, quality material... there is no rule to what I pick up for Salted. The label is going great with a lot of new releases on the horizon. I’m hoping the 'Random Soul EP' comes out this year! OZ in the house!

I’ll be straight to the point with my final question – vinyl or cd’s/computer software? For whichever choice, please list some reasons for the preference in that medium.

Well, to each his own. Everyone has there own preference so you can’t knock someone’s opinion. I personally prefer CD's and some vinyl still.... CD's are so easy to travel with as well as so convenient to burn and play. They are also very cost effective and space efficient. I love Vinyl, although these days all of the labels send out promo CD's and email mp3's instead of pressing up vinyl promos, so its convenient to be able to burn them and play them the same day where ever I am in the world! No one can deny the convenience.

Thanks for your time! See you in Sydney. Any final word/s for your readers/supporters? ‘Keep it deep’ perhaps? ;-)